For Whom the Bewitching Bell Tolls pt3

>As dawn breaks, you awaken and clean yourself before cleaning camp, with quick inventory check to make sure you've got everything.
>Curiously, you didnt have any visions of the future while you slept that night
>Maybe its because you've decided to take action? The future could be subject to change if you know what leads to it, right? Or is every step you take also ordained to lead to what you've seen?
>A pause to contemplate on these things before you snap yourself out of it
"No way. I wont let that happen...."
>Once you're done, you make your way back to the train checkpoint at a nearby outpost and wait. All the while, you design your weapon's mold in mind.

>You're no body-builder, but you're fairly strong from the physical labor and ample traveling and mining you've done. Still, you're not so sure how well that will translate to your swordarm's overall strength.
>A claymore would be your initial idea, but maybe something a bit lighter will be serviceable, especially as it'll be additional weight to your other supplies when you go to Mt. Everhoof for the Bell.
>Speaking of, that thing, the bell that you've seen in your dreams....its always given you a weird vibe
>Magic in general did at first, but you've gradually become accustomed to it over time - sans the more powerful unicorn and alicorn magics that you've seen Bookhorse and her Counselor companion use here and there
>But that thing, even in your dreams, really felt unnatural. It filled you with a sense of dread, and as you look at it, you cant help but feel......

>The sound of a shrill whistle and that of iron wheels grinding to a halt snaps you out of your light trance
>You decide not to worry about it for now. You're the only one (well, aside from Discord and soon, his lackeys) who knows exactly what you're going after. It might be better that way.

>Once you've boarded the train, you opt to ride it straight to the Perilous Peak's dead-end. It will be a long ride, but you cant afford to waste time stopping in Ponyville and risk being interrogated or stopped by anypony.
>While you could use some restocking of your supplies, especially while snacking on a portion of your rations as you watch the scenery pass by, you're confident that you can tough out the hike to Kirin Town
>Once you're there, you can restock and settle in a bit to get to work as soon as possible

>Your mind wanders a little over time. You wonder what will Luna do if she actually decides to check, assuming Sunbutt doesnt hold her up over it.
"By the time they take any action, everything else would probably be in motion anyway. They've never been quick to act. Never properly prepared."
>A bitter truth, but the truth nonetheless.
>While you did adapt pretty well to pony society, it always did irk you just a little that they're so blissfully unaware of the dangers that lie just outside of their borders
>Its a world of fantastical beasts, of magic and mystery, and danger if you dont mind yourself, yet they live simple lives in their simple towns and cities

>Their innocence was both endearing and enviable, at least you thought as much before recently
>Even of their worst enemies, of their greatest challenges, they would still try to see the good in such adversity and within each other, and somehow that would give them the strength to effect change, be it in others or their surroundings.
>It was inspiring. It was a magic that was special but at the same time so familiar and basic compared to the arcanic mysteries of this world.

>So if your vision held true, where did this Magic go?
>Why was Kindness and Generosity withheld?
>Why the Laughter at their fate?
Was there any value in the Loyalty of this mockery of what they stood for?
>Could they face the Honest truth if they knew the full extent of what they would do?

>Instead of stewing in your emotions, you opt to have a nap. It'll be some hours before you make it to your stop in the north west, so you might as well save what strength you have for the hike to Kirin Town
....
>Another vision, a repeat of what happened before, time and time again
>The three are defeated once more, and are rendered vulnerable while the Princesses prepare their judgement
>But this time, you refuse once more to allow this to go on
>With all of your being you stand before them as Discord whispers his punishment plan
>Like all the times before, your presence isnt noticed by any of them
>If this is a dream of any kind, then maybe....just maybe
>For once you could sleep peacefully if you put everything into changing it
>As the trio prepare their personification magic, you concentrate as much as your slumbering mind would allow
>You focused every bit of emotion you could muster in this state into raw, solid thought and hold your hand out towards the three in defiance of what was to come as they launch their spell
>A blinding light assails your vision as their spell collides with you, no longer passing through harmlessly as it once would

>The reaction makes your eyes shut tightly for a brief moment, but when you are able to open them gradually you find that the spell was completely negated
>In your hands sits a finely crafted ebony blade, crackling briefly with the surging magic it had neutralized
>You briefly appraise its craft, noting that it had matched one of many different designs you ran through your head, but also noting that it had a small attachment of a deep orange lock of fur at its pommel
>And unlike your other visions, your presence was no longer unnoticed. The Mane 6 reacted in sharp surprise to your "sudden appearance" and looking behind you, the defeated villains also showed a mixture of surprise and confusion.

>Celestia is the first to break the confusion your appearance created
>"Anonymous, what is the meaning of this?"
>You stand your ground, but lower your weapon
"Princesses, this has to stop. You have already won - they're powerless to do anything to you now."
>Next, Luna steps forward
>"That may be, but for how long? They have proven time and time again to be capable of becoming a threat to our kind and the world at large!"
>A glance back to them before facing Luna once more
>Clearly this wasnt the one you struck before, but still
"Luna, there will always be threats to Equestria and its allies, but answering with force isnt your way."
>You point your blade to the creatures who had assembled in the distance
"Before, dragons were territorial monsters who would bring harm to your kind if crossed, but through friendship, they've become allies and even have visits and a student schooling in Ponyville! Before, the Yaks would be willing to wage war on you over the smallest sleight! Even the new breed of Changelings only came about because you gave them a chance, despite your fears!"
>Again you focus on the Princesses
"Now look at what you've done. You tossed Tirek into Tartarus twice! The two of you should know his history with his brother - did you ever think to help him mend the betrayal he felt? Or to help him find another way to coexist with your kind?"
>The withered centaur looks away with a scowl as an old wound is opened

>"Anon, he destroyed my home and held my friends as prisoners! If it werent for that special box, all of Equestria would have been doomed! How do you expect me to just-"
Twilight responds, but you cut her off
"Let it go? You're the Princess of Friendship, not the Princess of Grudges. I'm not asking you to forgive him for what he's done, but you could try helping him to be better, like you did with Starlight.
Or is he not 'useful' enough to be kept around like she was?"
>You can see Starlight nearby, giving Twilight a wide-eyed stare she waits for an answer

>Twilight attempts to stammer out a reply, but cant coherently make out a sentence that wouldnt potentially damn her standing with her former student beyond "Its not like that,"
>That's her mess to clean up, though. The princesses still dont seem wholly convinced.
"Its true, Chrysalis has always been a problem, but after losing her hive, she's done little else to threaten ponies. What's a ruler without an army?"
>"I am still a Queen, and I WILL restore my hive!", she's quick to respond, but you ignore her for now.
"You guys helped the Changelings find a better way, but none of you, nor any of them, for all the friendship and love they shared, made any attempt after she fled to fixing the bridge between them and their mother. She was left alone to her own slowly creeping madness, growing weaker and wary until an opportunity for revenge came. Of course she'd be a threat, its the only path left for her!"
>Lastly, you look at Cozy Glow, who appears to be appraising you with curiosity. The cogs in her head are probably trying to figure out an angle to use your interruption to her advantage like the little manipulator she is, but now isnt the time to worry about that.

"Twilight."
>She's still trying to find some way of explaining her angle to Starlight, who only returns an unamused expression before forcibly teleporting her before you again, likely wanting to hear what else you had to put on her
>For once in a very long time, Twilight felt very, very small. You could tell just by looking at how sh withered under your gaze and her nervous smile as her eyes darted to Celestia, Luna, and anywhere else in hopes of someone bailing her from more verbal punishment
>Her aid never came.

"You let this foal enroll without making sure the lessons stuck properly, and when she revealed her agenda, you didnt accept any responsibility or tried to fix the mess you enabled. You just....let her go. "
>Celestia's impressive pokerface cracks a bit, knowing what came next. Her eyes dart between the other two Princesses briefly before locking with yours again
>"And you let the other Princesses take her away and lock her in literal 'Monster Hell'. No followup on why she did it, no checks on any family or friends she had real ties to, no attempts to fix her, nothing."
>Back to Luna, who's mouth hangs slightly agape as she looks at the other two
"Equestria will always have threats to face...but these are problems of your own making. Now you're going to put them away forever without ever owning up to that fact. I cannot and will not allow it."
>Twilight cant even look at you anymore, just staring at the ground as her ears and wings droop slightly
>Celestia also closes her eyes, exhaling sadly as she internally considers the merit of your words

>The silence is only broken by the loud crunching of popcorn as Discord himself watches the show play out from above, just out of your un-adjusted field of view.

>Your eyes narrow and you instinctively grip your weapon's hilt a little tighter as you internally brace yourself for the shenanigans to come.
>"Bravo, Anon! Truly you're an A class Friendshiprenure, and all without a single day in the Friendship School too~"
>Discord magics up a graduation cap atop your head and appears before you in his own ceremonial robes, all to offer you a diploma that you dare not open, lest you indulge him further.
"Discord," you hiss under your breath
>"Still, dear Anonymous, you have fallen short on the mark, if only by a teensy-weensy detail"
>The diploma unfurls itself into, revealing a drawing of Discord blowing raspberries at you before poofing, along with your cap
>"While I did not expect the coup they pulled, their entire scheme was but a mere test for Twilight and her friends"
>The Princesses seem a bit perplexed as they listen to his words. You wished they would ignore him
>"You can say that this seems much too over the top for such a thing, but really now, is it?"
>A snap of his fingers and Twilight appears before him on a little crystalline pedestal
>"The Princesses sent our dear little Twiggles to the Crystal Empire with her friends and family to face a tyrant they knew very little of, even with an entire kingdom on the line."

>Another snap and the rest of the Mane 6 appear next to her. Discord slithers behind them to give them a group hug as he speaks
"Since then, they've all become soooo much more powerful and capable friends~"
>Fluttershy is the only one who doesnt seem somewhat uncomfortable about this.
>Discord makes his way back toward the princesses as he heads towards you
>"But great friends dont always make great rulers, do they? And great rulers dont always make for the best friends"
>A flick of their crowns with his fingers as he passes to their annoyance, but still they listen.

"You're twisting this shit again.", you growl
>"Twisting -what-, Anon? That I had hoped they would make for an adequate challenge for my dear friends? That's the honest truth, I say"
>Discord turns his lion's paw into Grogar's head, making a living sockpuppet that emulates his voice
>"To truly overcome our adversaries, you have to work TOGETHER". it states before transforming back into its original form
>Chrysalis pipes up
>"You USED us as your playthings just to test our enemies!? This insult will NOT stand! I'll hound you to the ends of Equestria if I have to, and-"
>Discord manifests a roll of tape that spreads itself over her mouth, quickly silencing her
>"I admit, even I didnt expect that they would band together to work against me or get this far out of hoof, but our dear Twilight and company pulled together as they always do and united Equestria as one powerful force of good to put a stop to it all~ If there's any proof that they can lead everyone to a brighter future, then this would be it."
>Discord appears near Fluttershy and hugs her
>"And I did say that I was soo sorry that things went so far. "
>Fluttershy giggles a little, hugging him briefly in response

>Princess Celestia nods in agreement
>"Indeed, my former student and her friends have come far since her journey began....and still, the danger these three pose, even in this state, cannot be ignored. To build a future of harmony, they....will have to be put aside. At least until we can find a better solution.

"You're twisting this shit again.", you growl
>"Twisting -what-, Anon? That I had hoped they would make for an adequate challenge for my dear friends? That's the honest truth, I say"
>Discord turns his lion's paw into Grogar's head, making a living sockpuppet that emulates his voice
>"To truly overcome our adversaries, you have to work TOGETHER". it states before transforming back into its original form
>Chrysalis pipes up
>"You USED us as your playthings just to test our enemies!? This insult will NOT stand! I'll hound you to the ends of Equestria if I have to, and-"
>Discord manifests a roll of tape that spreads itself over her mouth, quickly silencing her
>"I admit, even I didnt expect that they would band together to work against me or get this far out of hoof, but our dear Twilight and company pulled together as they always do and united Equestria as one powerful force of good to put a stop to it all~ If there's any proof that they can lead everyone to a brighter future, then this would be it."
>Discord appears near Fluttershy and hugs her
>"And I did say that I was soo sorry that things went so far. "
>Fluttershy giggles a little, hugging him briefly in response

>Princess Celestia nods in agreement
>"Indeed, my former student and her friends have come far since her journey began....and still, the danger these three pose, even in this state, cannot be ignored. To build a future of harmony, they....will have to be put aside. At least until we can find a better solution.

>You cannot believe what you're observing right now. He fucking spun this to something they wanted to hear and they're buying it!
>"That's a pretty ominous butter knife you've got there," Discord states
>"I bet even the slightest cut could drain the magic out out anypony it touches. Even -I- could fall apart at the seams if you made a cut"

>Discord literally falls apart to illustrate his point, but quickly puts himself together again
>"After all the work I did to help my friends, are you really going to betray yours and all of Equestria just because you feel sorry for these three?"
>You look at the silenced Chrysalis and her two companions, then to the Mane 6, then to the expectant Princesses, and back to Discord, who you point your weapon towards
"My friends wouldn't turn the helpless into stone just to build some utopia. Friendship isnt about leaving others behind when things dont work out. If I have to cut you down to stop this madness and snap them to their senses, I'll do just that."
>Gasps from everyone, including a suddenly distressed Fluttershy
>Before Discord can return some fancy quip, you immediately lunge at him and take a good swing.
>It looked like it cut, but as he cries out and (again) falls apart, you quickly note that there wasnt any actual damage or blood.
>He segmented himself just as you made the cut to try playing everyone again.
>You're certain of it - this was too easy, but this was still an opportunity.
>Just before you can plunge your sword into his "severed" head while he plays dead, you're bowled over by a pink and yellow blur delivering a tackle to your midsection.

>The speed and suddenness was enough to disarm you as you're sent a few feet away from him
>"Anon, STOP! This isnt like you at all!"
>Fluttershy holds your torso in an attempt to pin you while giving you her best pleading face while you take a moment to recover from having the wind knocked out of you
"Neither.....is any of this like you guys! Now get off of me!"
>As you struggle to pry her off, Discord pulls himself together with a feigned sigh and expression of relief
>"That was too close. I could have seriously vanished forever if that got into me."
>Cozy huffs as she watches you struggle to free yourself from Fluttershy's deathgrip
>"Golly, knocked over by the shyest one and unable to keep fighting? Some help you are, human."
>Fluttershy is removed, but not by your doing, as Discord teleports her back to her friend's side while moving you under the same entrapment that held Cozy, Tirek and Chrysalis, the latter of which glares at you as she tries to voice her disappointment.
>Discord chimes again

>"Clearly we're all a little hot under the collar from everything that's happened today. I still say we put these four away-"
>"Three. Anon might have gotten a little carried away, but he's spoken honestly about this matter," Starlight interrupts
Twilight speaks up
>"Its just going to be a short time out compared to what happens to the others, r-right?"
>Still clearly shaken from your roast earlier, but hey, as far as you were concerned, she probably could use an ego boost from seeing your "execution".
>Celestia and Luna nod, with Discord rolls his eyes, likely discontent with not trapping you forever with the rest.
>You struggle and rage to free yourself,while Starlight laughs nervously and winces, unsure of whether a little "time out" would be sufficient"
>Discord rubs his hands together to rev up his petrification magic and the Princesses join in
>"Now, now, no more fussing. Are there last words? I might be able to engrave them, at your base~"

>Tirek, who had oddly been the quietest of the bunch, finally speaks
>"Discord, when we worked together to conquer Equestria, I thought I had you figured out. I thought you simply enjoyed making chaos and causing ponies to suffer, and would only abide by them because of their weapons against you.
>Discord chuckles
>"Such fun days they were, even if you were using me, it did feel wonderful to cut loose again....but THAT was the old me"
>Tirek shakes his head
>"No. You havent changed at all....and what you've done with us, what you've done to -them- only makes your true betrayal run deeper than that of my brother."
>Discord waves him off
>"I have no idea what you're talking about, Tirek. I'm reformed now, dont you know?
>Tirek refuses to acknowledge him further.
>Discord gives one look at Chrysalis, but after a pause to consider it....
>"Pass"
>Chrysalis screams into her seal and tries to ignite her horn to do something, anything, but she's rendered too weak from the Rainbow blast to manifest her strength.
>Discord looks down at Cozy Glow, who returns a puppy-eyed stare and a lip quiver, as though on the verge of tears
>"Oh, this ought to be rich."

>You only manage to pull half of your upper torso out of the giant weight on your body
>Cozy Glow speaks quietly in a trembling voice
>"-sniffle- I used to wonder what friendship could be...."
>She rubs her foreleg to her eyes, briefly covering her face
>"Until you shared....."
>Her hoof is removed and she returns a wry glare and a smug grin that makes Discord flinch slightly
>"That its full of hypocrisy! Golly, who would think that I would be proven right after all! I started to doubt myself a bit back on Mt. Everhoof when we worked together, and even in our Canterlot bust, I started to think I might have been wrong about friendship like that sorry excuse of a Princess said! Now seeing you all here, judging us and acting like you're all so much better, just because we dont think like you proves my point!"
>She laughs manically
>"Friendship IS power!"
>A look at Discord
>"Power to manipulate without repercussions!"
>To Celestia and Luna
>"Power to decide who should be banished and who can stay with your group!"
>And lastly, to Twilight
>"Power to define and control what and how that group thinks! "
>"I couldnt take Equestria, but I still won against your idea of 'Friendship!' Hahahaha!"

>Her words clearly unnerved the crowd as there was a murmur and exchange of glances and whispers all around
>Still, you knew it wouldnt stick. These horses could be made to believe anything.
>You cant get out of this, so you ponder what could you have done differently? How else could you have turned this around if you couldnt cut this deceiver down? Your words had almost reached them before he interfered-
>Wait.
>You glance a distance away and see something dimply glow in the distance
>Yes, of course....if you had the Bell, you could have sucked his power away without needing to make an obvious attempt at it.
>Hell, you could depower the Princesses and everyone else too!
>Then when everyone's nice and weak, you can all sit down and talk this out, and if Discord still insists on being retarded, well, he wont be able to dodge you next time.
>The Bell was still the answer to your problems, and your blade was a means to that end.
>You dont even notice Discord trying to get your attention as you envision your way forward.
>"Oh well, if he has nothing more interesting to say, then why bother."
>Chrysalis angrily nudges you, but it takes a few tries before she finally gets your attention
"What? You still want to say something to him before you're made into a statue?"
>"Mfmfmm"
>You sigh and remove the tape from her mouth as gently as you could
>Strangely, she doesnt react to it, instead shoving you a few more times
"Goddamn it, just speak your mind already."
>"Its time to wake up, you idiot! We've arrived to our stop!"

>That isnt her voice.
>Those words make the world fall apart around you as you're forcibly snapped back to reality, back on the long since stopped train. A grumpy stallion conductor shoves you again against your shoulder
>"By Celestia, its been 15 minutes since I started trying to get you up. I thought you might have been in a coma or something. We're at the end of the line, so get out."
---
>You grumble out a curt "thanks" and grab your things as you leave the locomotive
>Its already late afternoon, but your hike to Kirin town would get you there by nightfall for sure.
>Curiously, Loose Tracks isnt around to greet you at his booth
>You wonder if any of the Kirin happened to have approached him since your last visit.
>He was really spooked about their kind, among the many dangers out there.
>Whatever, there's no time for pondering silly things. Your last vision told you everything you needed to know.
>When you started your train ride, you had your mind on what sort of weapon you would design, but now you've got a better glimpse of the future you could forge, too
>All wasnt lost to you or the others just yet.
>You can still change this, and you will....at whatever the cost.